As per Hindu belief, Chardham Yatra holds great significance. It is regarded as a pilgrimage. Chardham is situated in four different directions. In the north there is Badrinath; in the south, there is Rameshwaram, in the east there is Puri and in the West there is Dwarka. From the very ancient times only, the existence of Chardham was recognized but its popularity was propagated by Adi Shankaracharya Ji. It is believed that he had enlisted the Chardham along with the 12 Jyotirlinga.
The cultural reason behind recognizing the four Dham in the four different directions is to allow people to go around almost the entire country while visiting the Chardham. The Chardham Yatra intends to introduce people to the country’s diverse and colorful culture; to the civilization and traditions of one’s own country.
Badrinath is one of the major Chardham in the north. At the temple Nar-Narayan is worshipped as a deity and an eternal flame is made to burn this flame is a symbol of the unwavering flame of knowledge. This is an important pilgrimage destination among all other Chardham that our country has. All Hindus wish to pay a Darshan to Badrinath at least once. Visitors bathe in the Tapt Kund at Badrinath Dham. Items like a garland of van Tulsi, raw chana dal, kernel shell, and sugar clumps, etc are offered as Prasad at the temple
Where is it
On the Himalayas of the north and along the banks of River Alaknanda.
The idol
Four armed Shaligram Shila idol of Lord Vishnu flanked by the idol of Uddhav Ji at the right and Kubera at the left.
At the Rameshwaram Dham, Lord Shiva is worshipped in Linga form. It is one among the 12 or Dwadash Jyotirlingam. Rameshwaram in the south enjoys the same importance as Kashi in the country’s north. Rameshwaram lies nearly 420 miles southeast of Chennai. Rameshwaram is a beautiful conch-shaped island surrounded on all sides by the Indian Ocean and the Bay of Bengal.
Where is it
It is an island amid the sea in the Ramanathapuram district of Tamil Nadu, towards the country’s south
The idol
Shiv ling
Puri’s Jagannath Mandir is dedicated to Lord Krishna. It is situated in the coastal town of Puri in the Indian state of Orissa. The word ‘Jagannath’ stands for ‘lord of the Universe’. The town of Lord Jagannath is called ‘Jagannath Puri’ or only ‘Puri’. This temple has been counted among the four Dham of the Hindus. The annual Rath Yatra festival associated with this temple is a famous one. The major Prasad offered here is rice.
Where is it
In the eastern direction of the country, in the Puri falling within the state of Orissa
The idol
The Neelmadhav form of lord Vishnu is also referred to as Jagannath. There are also the idols of Subhadra and Balabhadra
Dwarka is situated along the sea in the country’s west. Nearly 1000 years ago Dwarka was set up by Lord Krishna. Krishna was born in Mathura, grew up in Gokul, and ruled in Dwarka. Sitting at Dwarka he had held the reins of the entire country in his hands. He gave his support to the Pandavas. It is believed that the real Dwarka has sunk into the waters but still this land of lord Krishna is highly revered even today. That’s the reason why Lord Krishna is worshipped here.
Where is it
In the vicinity to Gujarat’s Jamnagar along the sea, in the country’s west
The idol
Lord Krishna
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